Corduroy and Company: A Don Freeman Treasury

By Don Freeman

Book Overview

Generations have grown up with Don Freeman's picture books, and many of today's parents are reading aloud the same favorite books that they loved as children. In this welcome collection, 11 of Freeman's most appealing tales, including Corduroy , Dandelion , Norman the Doorman , Mop Top , and his Caldecott Honor Book Fly High, Fly Low are collected in one edition. One story, Gayelord the Goat , has never before been published and is seen here for the first time. An introduction by renowned critic Leonard Marcus outlines Freeman's career and contribution, and an afterword tells the story of the artist's incredible life, from trumpet player to theater illustrator to children's book legend. Corduroy & Company is not only a wonderful book to share with children, but also a fascinating look at the career of a man who was one of the most influential writers and artists of his time. Don Freeman (1908-1978) was born in San Diego, California, and moved to New York City to study art, making his living as a jazz trumpeter. With the loss of his trumpet on a subway train, Freeman turned his talents to art full-time. In 1951, after the birth of his son, Roy, Freeman created his first picture book, Chuggy and the Blue Caboose , which is included in this collection.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670035106
• ISBN13: 9780670035106
• Release Date: September 2001
• Publisher: Viking Children's Books
• Length: 117 Pages
• Weight: 1.74 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 10.3" x 10.0"
• Age Range: 4 to 7 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 2

Customer Reviews

Corduray & Company

The book is a great collection of wonderful childhood stories. It is a great addition to my neice's little library.

A Treasury Indeed!

This wonderful treasury book contains ten of the beloved stories of the talented and original writer/artist, Don Freeman including his best loved character, the irrepressible teddy bear, Corduroy, complete with their full color illustrations. It also contains a never before published story called Gayelord, about a very colorful goat.There is an interesting introduction and nice photographs of Don Freeman. Chuggy and the Blue Caboose is a great story about a little snow-plower caboose and his engine friend, Lucy, that save the day. In Pet of the Met we meet Maestro Petrini, a dashing and clever mouse who works as a page-turner for the prompter at the Metropolitan Opera House. The story of Beady Bear is next, followed by everyone's favorite red-headed boy, Mop Top. Fly High Fly Low, a Caldecott Honor Book from 1957 tells the story of two pigeons, Sid and Midge, and their adventures in San Francisco, featuring many of that city's beautiful landmarks. Who can resist the adorable Norman the Doorman, the charming mouse doorman of the majestic Museum of Art who becomes an artist in his own right. Enjoy Dandelion as he gets fancied up for a party and don't forget Tilly Witch, the Queen of Halloween, (sadly, now out of print) but still to be found riding her surf board with a whisk broom for a skeg in this great collection. Flash the Dash, the story of a dachshund who delivers telegrams, rounds out the treasury. At the back of the book is a biographical article with more photographs of Don Freeman and samples of his drawings for other genres. I love this book because it collects so many beloved stories in one place. It makes these gems available, preserving them for future generations and is an affordable package that makes it easy for parents to provide these classics for their children. Hopefully, it will encourage folks to seek out the individual story books, too, so they can enjoy the full size illustrations. Don Freeman's characters are so filled with fun and are so lively and expressive, they are not to be missed.